Blanchard Island Recreation Area
Mississippi River - Pools 11-22 — riverside, fishing
Location: New Boston, IA, IA
Price: From $14 per night
Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (9 reviews)
Season: May through October
The Mississippi River Project’s Muscatine Ranger Station has gone to a new way to pay for First-Come First-Serve campsites at the Blanchard Island Recreation Area. This new way is called "Scan & Pay". Blanchard Island’s open fee dates are May 15th through October 15th.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Dump Station, Fishing, Boat Launch
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/blanchard-island-recreation-area to be notified when sites open up.
Blanchard Island Recreation Area offers affordable camping at $14/night with boat launch and fishing access on the Mississippi River. The campground features essential amenities including fire rings, picnic tables, drinking water, and a dump station.
Wildlife alert: Red-headed Woodpeckers, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Barred Owls, American Beavers, and three turtle species (Ouachita Map, Ornate Box, and Western Painted) are documented in the area.
Insider tips for Blanchard Island Recreation Area: Book early as a federal campground with limited sites (1 total site listed) Use Recreation.gov mobile app with QR code 'Scan & Pay' system—cash no longer accepted, credit card required Arrive physically at campground to purchase and claim your site using the app
Skip Blanchard Island Recreation Area if: You need RV hookups—no hookups available; only self-contained RVs suitable. You prefer to pay with cash—credit card only with new Scan & Pay system. You plan to visit outside May 15 - October 15 window—seasonal operations only. You're driving a vehicle unsuitable for 2.5 miles of gravel road.
Best time to visit Blanchard Island Recreation Area: May 15 - October 15 — Official open season per RIDB; campground operates seasonally during this period only.
Nearby campgrounds: Shady Creek (MUSCATINE, IA), Clarks Ferry (Muscatine, IA), Turkey Creek Day Use Area (Iowa City, IA), Tailwater East Campground (IOWA CITY, IA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Blanchard Island Recreation Area
Cell signal at Blanchard Island Recreation Area (New Boston, IA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
The Mississippi River Project’s Muscatine Ranger Station has gone to a new way to pay for First-Come First-Serve campsites at the Blanchard Island Recreation Area. This new way is called "Scan & Pay". Blanchard Island’s open fee dates are May 15th through October 15th.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as a federal campground with limited sites (1 total site listed)
Use Recreation.gov mobile app with QR code 'Scan & Pay' system
cash no longer accepted, credit card required
Arrive physically at campground to purchase and claim your site using the app
Official open season per RIDB; campground operates seasonally during this period only
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
To get to Blanchard Island Recreation Area you will need to drive on approximately 2.5 miles of gravel road. The address is 34000 176th Ave. W., New Boston, IL 61272. From Muscatine, IA, you will need to cross the Muscatine Bridge into IL. You'll drive about 2 miles on Hwy. 92, then turn right onto 322nd St. W for about 4.5 miles. Then you'll turn right onto 176th St. W, which is a gravel road. Follow this gravel road all the way to the levee for about 2.5 miles, then go up and over the levee to
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Mississippi River - Pools 11-22 fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at Mississippi River - Pools 11-22 before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Blanchard Island Recreation Area cost per night?+
What season is Blanchard Island Recreation Area open?+
Does Blanchard Island Recreation Area have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Blanchard Island Recreation Area?+
How do I make reservations at Blanchard Island Recreation Area?+
What is the cell service like at Blanchard Island Recreation Area?+
What season is Blanchard Island Recreation Area open, and what are check-in times?+
●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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